Russia displays its farming credentials at Berlin's Green Week
in Berlin at the 70th annual International Green Week exhibition.
For the third year in succession, the Russian Federation is the
largest exhibitor at the show, reflecting the growing desire of
Russia's farmers to seek international buyers, writes Angela
Drujinina.
For the first time this year, Russia has its own separate hall at the IGW, some 6,000 square metres dedicated to Russian produce and agricultural technology.
The Russian delegation was headed by Alexei Gordeev, the country's Minister of Agriculture, but also included Moscow's mayor Iury Lujkov and the governors and heads of the biggest food companies from 19 Russian regions.
Among the Russian products on display are dairy and meat products, baked goods and pasta, seafood and fish delicacies. There is also a wide selection of Russian vodkas and a range of organic products.
Chilled products, food additives and ingredients, confectionery, pastry, ice cream, fresh fruit and vegetables, mushrooms and berries, honey, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and beer are also on display.
A number of round tables and conferences on the development of the agricultural sector in Russia are also on the agenda at the IGW.
Russian companies have found an increasing level of interest in their agricultural output through international exhibitions such as IGW. "Last year's IGW was our first foreign exhibition," said Svetlana Polyanskaya, head of marketing at the Rostov-based company Molodet.
"We took part in the exhibition because we decided to take our product (wholegrain bread) abroad. We made initial contact with an American company with a network of 200 shops, with a major company from Spain, two German companies and with wholesalers from Kazakhstan and Lithuania. If these initial contacts grow into a real collaboration, it will allow us cover the cost of building a new factory."
